A former U.S. prosecutor has announced his bid to challenge current Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Todd Spitzer during the next election. Former federal prosecutor Pete Hardin, who served as a Marine Corps officer, accused Spitzer during a March 16 press conference of using the office “for his own personal and political game.” “I’m gravely concerned that our current district attorney fights more for headlines and TV appearances, than he does for real smart justice,” Hardin said. “His pursuit of the headline has been at the cost of the pursuit of justice.” If elected, Hardin promised to remove the death penalty and instead seek life without parole, as well as remove cash bail. Hardin’s campaign manager is Maxwell Szabo, who serves as spokesperson for Los Angeles District Attorney (LADA) George Gascon. Orange County’s top prosecutor Spitzer has accused Gascon of being weak on crime for removing sentencing enhancements when prosecuting criminals. Hardin said he, too, has issues with sentencing enhancements. “I …